Pakistan v England 1st test, Abu Dhabi Oct 13-17

[meninblue]

Having seen both team sheets, imo Pakistan are favorites. Pak have advantage in batting,spin bowling department and close in fielding for spin bowlers. England has a better pace attack and a better outfielders.

Hafeez to replace injured Azhar Ali. imo Shoaib will come in middle order.

Pakistan have lot of spin options in two specialist spinners (Yasir + Zulfi) and Hafeez + Shoaib. They are well staffed than England who are carrying just one specialist spinner.

As for England, i really don't understand what they will do with 3 specialist pacers + Ben in UAE

[dan08]

Having seen both team sheets, imo Pakistan are favorites. Pak have advantage in batting,spin bowling department and close in fielding for spin bowlers. England has a better pace attack and a better outfielders.

Hafeez to replace injured Azhar Ali. imo Shoaib will come in middle order.

Pakistan have lot of spin options in two specialist spinners (Yasir + Zulfi) and Hafeez + Shoaib. They are well staffed than England who are carrying just one specialist spinner.

As for England, i really don't understand what they will do with 3 specialist pacers + Ben in UAE

Hafeez can't bowl.

[meninblue]

Having seen both team sheets, imo Pakistan are favorites. Pak have advantage in batting,spin bowling department and close in fielding for spin bowlers. England has a better pace attack and a better outfielders.

Hafeez to replace injured Azhar Ali. imo Shoaib will come in middle order.

Pakistan have lot of spin options in two specialist spinners (Yasir + Zulfi) and Hafeez + Shoaib. They are well staffed than England who are carrying just one specialist spinner.

As for England, i really don't understand what they will do with 3 specialist pacers + Ben in UAE

Hafeez can't bowl.

Thanks, i forgot about that. More reason why Shoaib gets in the team as the only offie.

Still 2 specialist bowlers and Shoaib is better that Rashid + Moeen and Joe.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'd probably start with Anderson and Broad, Shanky, but if there's any promise among other pace bowlers, they should contest the spots of the established pair, rather than being accommodated at the expense of players who offer different skills, which is what I think will happen.

[hopeforthebest]

Three specialist pace bowlers plus Stokes is foolish, Taylor or even Samit would be a better team for this first test. The important thing is not to lose the first test as England so often have, I would play the extra batsman in Taylor.,

[Making_Splinters]

Given that both Ali and Rashid can bat, there's no harm in playing a third pace bowler.

[hopeforthebest]

Given that both Ali and Rashid can bat, there's no harm in playing a third pace bowler.

Moeen may be able to bat in the middle or lower order but opening?

[Slipstream]

Any merit in suggesting in the arduous conditions, England will get more out of twentysomething fast bowlers rather than thirtysomething?

Anderson is fitter than Finn and Wood, never mind their ages. Wood is going to be playing with an injury loaded up with pills so it's likely that Finn will play in the 2nd Test.

[dan08]

Finn ruled out. Yasir Shah also a doubt.

[Aidan11]

Looks like Wood will definitely play then.

[dan08]

Zafar Gohar called up as cover for Yasir.

[Gingerfinch]

Three seamers and Stokes? Sounds a bit of overkill.

[dan08]

Three seamers and Stokes? Sounds a bit of overkill.

Stokes is the problem really. He's not good enough to be a third seamer but then we don't really need a fourth seamer. He can't get in the team as a batsman either so it's a bit of a waste of a spot.

[Gingerfinch]

Three seamers and Stokes? Sounds a bit of overkill.

Stokes is the problem really. He's not good enough to be a third seamer but then we don't really need a fourth seamer. He can't get in the team as a batsman either so it's a bit of a waste of a spot.

If we're playing two spinners, then Stokes as a third seamer doesn't sound as bad, as they will more than likely do a lot of bowling. Use him in short spurts, and ask him to run in.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Quite a few batters in the squad don't really represent greater reliability than Stokes. Probably only Root and Cook definitely do. It's no more flawed to pick Stokes as a recognised bat than Bell, Buttler, Moeen and Bairstow (on long lasting form and, in the case of Bell, record in Asia), and Patel, Hales and Taylor (on experience).

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=batting

Averages in games Stokes has played in. Only Root demands a place, arguably Cook as opener. There's not much of a case for saying Stokes isn't good enough to get in this side on batting alone.